Here is a photo I took of the Salt Water Lotus as soon as I finished it. It was just an hour before I left to go to the airport for Quilt Market!

I couldn't be happier with how this quilt came out. I love it.

Here is a detail shot of one of my favorite blocks. The octopus is adorable!!

Many people have asked if Salt Water will coordinate well with Neptune. The answer is YES! I used some of my treasured Neptune stash on the back of my Salt Water quilt. This photo shows you how well they play together!

Here is a detail shot of the bindings of the Salt Water and Lucy's Crab Shack quilts.

Since my Quilt Patterns feature size options I often try to make them in more than one size to show you the possibilities. Here is the Baby size featuring Lucy's Crab Shack.

Detail of Angela's quilting.

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So now I have a question for you...

At Quilt Market people commented that the cover sample didn't feel like me. I would love to know what you think... The current quilt is on the cover for 2 reasons. The first is that I finished it weeks ago and had time to photograph it. (I just got the Salt Water fabric the day I started the quilt!.) The second is because I've never had a pattern cover with batiks despite featuring them in my book. While I don't work with Batik fabrics as often as prints, I enjoy them and wanted to see the response.

OR

So the big question is... Keep the current cover or shoot new photos tomorrow and use the Salt Water quilt on the cover?

I would say keep the current cover. Something different for you is not a bad thing is it? I really love all the quilts made with this pattern. If it is really bothering you by all means retake the photo. Only you know for sure.

Although the current cover quilt isn't your norm, and I'm not a fan of batiks, I think it's an amazing cover quilt. I think using it as your cover opens you to a wider demographic. To show those who only use batiks that they can be used in modern designs and still look stunning.

Keep the cover! I love the batiks ... I know they're not loved by everyone and for some reason aren't considered to be "modern," but they look fantastic. I like the suggestion above about putting a small photo on the back with one of the other quilts.

I was surprised to see a batik quilt on your cover but I think you should leave it. It is beautiful but moreso, I think it will reach out to a larger audience who might not see themselves as modern but will then open their eyes to the possibilities upon seeing this quilt - how awesome is that? Love that Salt Water quilt and fabric and the baby quilt is awesome too. I think I want to add this pattern to my collection as well!

The cover photo is my least favorite of the color schemes you showed us today, but that's because it's not ME, not because it's not YOU. Could you feature that one AND a brighter color scheme on the cover?

I vote for keeping the original (even though I'm firmly entrenched in the Tulatroop camp) - I bet you get some new interest in that pattern in LQS's because it will appeal to a different demographic...

Julie ~ While that cover night not necessarily 'feel' like you I think it's good. There are many quilters that like using batiks and more of the darker fabrics instead of the brighter (and what some might consider to be more modern? fabrics). Some of them may not view a quilt pattern and think about making it using other fabrics.

Having a cover using batiks I think very well might get some of those quilters see your pattern with this cover and want to make it. It might catch their eye. I know there are some colors I don't really like and when scrolling through patterns I tend to miss really seeing quilts done using those colors myself so anyone that doesn't like bright colors might do the same and only be looking for batiks on a cover.

Aren't we as quilters supposed to be able to imagine patterns made of different fabrics? I have quite a collection of batiks and love them for what they are. I have moved on to more modern fabrics now but feel no need to get rid of my batiks. I like that you show options.

I vote for the batik for many of the reasons above. It widens the audience and draws in a different group of quilters. Lotus looks so sophisticated in the batiks, people who might never "see" a quilt in their living room will stop and think twice.

Julie~I like the current cover(quilt) very much. Please keep it. Because it is so different from the prints that you usually use perhaps that is a very good reason to keep the cover!I do like all 3 quilts & again enjoyed the photo shot ~ keep those pictures coming!Penny in So CA

Keep the current cover! It's a great shot color and composition-wise and, as others have pointed out, using a different fabric (batiks) has advantages. (Besides, I really like how that brown batik looks with the rest of them...my eye keeps going back to it...)

I agree with the majority and vote to stay with the original. You loved that shot enough to use it the first time, you should keep it. I also agree to add a thumbnail maybe on the back to show versatility. Love Love Love all of your new designs!! You are so talented Julie!!! Can't wait to see what you have up your sleeve! <3

I would leave the cover as is. Unless like Cindy said if you don't like it then change it. But I think it shows people that may pick fabric like it or similar what the quilt may look like. I know that it helped me when we found out that my cousin & his fiance would want a quilt made out of neutrals for their bed. I showed my mom your Yummy pattern & the cover quilt is what made her decide that would be the design. Now I just need to pick out the fabric for it. :)

I honestly LOVE that pattern in the batiks! It looks great! I usually prefer brighter colors & am a HUGE fan of Tula, but I think the batiks showcase that pattern a lot better! I just picked up my Hex & More ruler at my LQS & am starting on a hexie quilt! So far I am finding the ruler really easy & fun to use!!!

I think there's a negative knee jerk reaction to batiks in the 'modern' quilt movement. It may be because some good people over the years have done some horrible things to perfectly innocent batiks. I've seen some gorgeous batiks but they are definitely not as common in the MQG circles. If you like the cover-keep it. It's about time we saw some 'modern' interpretations of batik. Maybe someone should start a Batik-A-Long.